They’d bonded and shared their secrets on Corfu. Would the magic still be there on a rainy afternoon in England?
BY LYNDA FRANKLIN
That’s it then, Karen thought, watching the rain clatter relentlessly against the windows. Not only would they not be able to sit on her brand-new patio furniture, the recently spruced-up conservatory was also out of the question. You couldn’t hear yourself think in there when it was raining – let alone speak.
“Drab, desperately-in-need-of-decoration dining room it is, then,” she murmured to herself.
She could hear John crashing around in there already – picking out the best glasses and searching for the decanter he got for his birthday and never used.
She stood in the doorway and sighed.
“It’s raining.”
“Yep – noticed that,” he replied, not looking up. “What happened to that – ah, here it is!” He emerged triumphant with a decanter in his hand.
“Not quite Corfu, is it?” Karen remarked flatly.
He sighed. “Stop worrying about the weather, Karen. A few cocktails inside them and they won’t know whether it’s snowing or a heatwave.”
This wasn’t how she’d imagined the big reunion – the meet-up following one wonderfully blissful holiday together in Greece. The holiday where they all met as strangers and finished up as lifelong friends after two weeks in the melty sun under a paintbox-blue sky.
At least, that’s how it felt back then. They’d bonded, shared their lives over copious bottles of ouzo, declared their friendship for each other and promised this was just the beginning of many more happy times together.
What had actually happened was that they exchanged Christmas cards and a text here and there, and that was that.
Like all holiday friendships, it hadn’t taken long for the golden memories to lose their shine in the busyness of life.
They all lived so far apart, for one thing. And for another thing – well, if she was completely honest, Karen had enough friends.
She just didn’t have time to put in the effort that was needed to maintain long-distance friendships.
Until, that is, she got the latest text from Graham:
Hi, Karen. Fancy that meet-up we keep talking about? We’re visiting family nearby, so would be a good opportunity. Have texted Polly and Dave. Let me know as soon as possible. Thank you – Graham
It was a typical text from Graham. Everything written precisely: no abbreviation
